Capturing industrial landscapes can be challenging, but they often result in striking, high-contrast images. Rugged industry and natural beauty make a compelling setting for black-and-white photography.
Coming to you from Jason Friend Photography, this engaging video takes you through a shoot at Redcar, a location known for its industrial skyline. The focus is on shooting black-and-white panoramic landscapes, and Friend gives you an inside look into how he approaches these shots. He tackles the industrial terrain while using black-and-white settings in-camera for real-time composition feedback. By setting his camera to a monochrome profile, he can better visualize tones and contrasts while framing his shots. This tip is especially helpful for those starting in black-and-white photography, as it allows you to focus on composition without distractions from color. Friend also explores long-exposure techniques using a variable ND filter, which can be a great tool for smoothing water and creating atmospheric effects, even on bright days.
The video further explores how Friend navigates challenges like wind, shooting directly into the sun, and working with less-than-ideal light conditions. He provides an insightful look at the importance of timing and location when planning shots—especially in a place like Redcar, where the industrial landscape can be both a benefit and a challenge. His commentary on choosing between different angles and compositions as he photographs fisherman huts and wind farms gives you a sense of the decision-making process that goes into landscape photography in dynamic environments.
Friend also touches on some gear specifics, such as the benefits of his Panasonic camera's panoramic mode, which allows him to shoot in a 65x24 crop while still retaining the full image frame. This flexibility in post-production gives you more control over the final output, particularly for wide, sweeping shots. It’s a great feature if you want to experiment with framing after the shoot, something that could be valuable when you’re working with fast-changing conditions or complex landscapes. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Friend.
And if you really want to dive into landscape photography, check out our latest tutorial, "Photographing the World: Japan With Elia Locardi!"
